Wabble plate for nutating type fluid meters



Aug. 21, 1951 D. s. WILLSON WABBLE PLATE FOR NUTATING TYPE FLUID METERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 2, 1946 Aug. 21, 1951 D. s. WILLSON 2,565,287

WABBLE PLATE FOR NUTATING TYPE FLUID METERS Original Filed March 2, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q O 7///J Inventor:-

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 D. S. WILLSON WABBLE PLATE FOR NUTATING TYPE FLUID METERS Aug. 21, 1951 Original Filed March 2., 1946 m w w Ww 1M 0 m 6 1 r 1.1: |\T. J 6 li i: P... W w W 6 3 w 2 w a f m X Aug. 21, 1951 D. s. WILLSON WABBLE PLATE FOR NUTATING TYPE FLUID METERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed March 2, 1946 Aug. 21, 1951 D. s. WILLSON WABBLE PLATE FOR NUTATING TYPE FLUID METERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed March 2, 1946 IQUJO.

Patented Aug. 21, 1951 VVAEBLE PLATE FOR NUTATING TYPE:

FLUID METERS David S. Willson, Muskegon Heights, Mich., as-

signor to John Wood Manufacturing Company, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Original application March 2, 1946, Serial No. 651,447. Divided and this application June 9, 1947, Serial No. 753,527

My invention relates to improvement in wabble plate for nutating type fluid meters of the positive displacement type which are particularly adaptable for use in dispensing apparatus which measures accurately the volume of fluid dispensed. My improved meter is also adaptable for other uses, such as for installation in a pipeline to measure accurately the volume of fluid flowing under pressure through the pipeline, etc.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 651,447 filed March 2, 1946, for Improvement inFluid Meters, which matured into Letters Patent No. 2,437,413 granted March 9, 1948.

One object of my invention is to provide a fluid meter which has a die cast body and top cover of small overall dimensions, but which has the same volumetric metering capacity as a larger dimensioned fluid meter constructed in the ordinary manner.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fluid meter in which the wabble plate is continuously maintained in timed relation with respect to the timing of the valve of the meter.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction, arrangement, and method of operation as hereinafter described.

In said drawings; Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved meter.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on the lines 2-2' in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, with the structure shown above the line XX being taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1, and the structure shown below the line X-X being taken on the line 3A3A in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the bottom closure of the meter.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View, partly in elevation, of the bottom closure shown in Fig. 7, and taken on the lines 8-3 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of the bottom closure shown in Fig. 5, and taken on the same line of section as Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an inverted bottom plan View of the main body casing of the meter shown in Fig; 3.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the bottom closure, similar to Fig. 5, but with the wabble plate of the meter superimposed in position on the adjusting screw mounted in the bottom closure.

Fig. 10: is a top plan view ,-partly in section, of the meter valve indicated in Figs. 3 and 4.

. 1 Claim. (01. 74-60) 2 7 Referring to said drawings; my improved meter is conveniently formed in three parts comprising a die cast top cover 1, a die cast main body casing 2, and base portion, or bottom closure 3, which may also be die cast, if desired. Said top cover I is rigidly connected to the body casing 2 by means of a circumferential series of screws 5 which extend through openings in the flange 6 of the top cover I into matching screw threaded holes formed in the top wall of the body casing 2. 'A gasket 9 is interposed between the top cover I and the body casing 2 in order to maintain said top I and body casing 2 in fluid tight relationship. The bottom closure 3 is rigidly connected to the body casing 2 by means of a circumferential series of screws H] which extend through openings in the flange l2 of the body casing 2 into matching screw threaded holes formed in the flange l3 of the bottom closure 3. A gasket I5 is interposed between the bottom closure 3 and body casing 2 to maintain said bottom closure 3 and body casing 2 in fluid tight relationship.

Said bottom closure 3 is provided with the fluid inletconnection it which is in open communication with the inlet opening IS formed in the bottom closure. The inlet opening l6 is in registry with the inlet passageway ll formed in the body casing 2, and the inlet passageway I1 is in open communication with the inlet chamber I8 formed in the top cover I. The inlet connection I6 is adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure which is measured as it passes through the meter. For example, my. improved meter may be mounted on an air eliminator chamber of a liquid dispensing apparatus such as disclosed in Letters Patent ofthe United States No. 2,351,331, granted to M. 'J. Goldberg, with the meter inlet l6 disclosed herein connected to the air eliminator outlet opening 26 of said patent. The air vent connectionj I disclosed herein would be substituted for' the connection 36 of said patent.

I find it convenient to form the valve seat 23 as a separate flat plate which is integrally. locked in the top wall 24 of the body casing 2 whenrsaid body casing 2 is die cast. It is obvious thatsaid valve seat may be formed otherwise, for example, as a part of, or connected to, the topwall 24 of the body casing. Said valve plate 23 isprovided with a series of port openings 26 'which are in registry with Openings 2'! formed in the top wall 24 of the body casing 2. The openings 21. are larger than the openings 26 and, hence, the effective port area conveniently is determined by the configuration and area of the accurately formed 3 ports 26 in the valve plate 23. Each port 26 is in open communication with its piston cylinder 28. I find it convenient to form said piston cylinders 28 as open end cylinders which are screw threaded at their upper ends and engage threaded openings 29 formed at the top of the body casing 2.

Although I have illustrated my invention with reference to a 4-piston cylinder type of meter, it is obvious that the number of piston cylinders used is optional; and although I have shown and described the piston cylinders 28 in screw threaded engagement in the top of the body casing 2, it is obvious that said cylinders may be connected otherwise.

As best shown in Fig. 3, each of the cylinders 28 is provided with a piston assembly 35 which is mounted in a cylinder 28 for reciprocation in response to the fluid pressure on top of the piston. Each piston assembly 35 includes a telescopic connecting rod 36 provided at its lowermost end, as viewed in Fig. 3, with a ball end 3'! which is mounted and confined in a socket 38 formed in the wabble plate 39. The connecting rod ball end 3'! is retained in its socket 38 conveniently by means of a washer 38*- which is fastened to the wabble plate by any well known means, such as by providing the washer with ears which extend through holes in the wabble plate, with the ears clinched over on the under side of the wabble plate. The telescopic piston rod herein shown is claimed in my copending application Serial No. 584,720, filed March 24, 1945, now abandoned, for Improvement in Connecting Rods. Although I have shown the sockets 38 formed as an integral part of the wabble plate 39, it is obvious that said sockets may be formed as separate stampings inserted into openings formed in said wabble plate, as is well known in the art.

Each piston assembly 35 includes a cup leather 40, piston backing plate 4|, intermediate plate 42, piston spring retainer plate 43, and piston expander spring 45. Each piston assembly 35 is mounted on the screw threaded reduced portion 41 of its piston rod 36 and maintained in rigid position on its piston rod 36 by means of a nut 48. The piston assembly shown and described is of a well known construction wherein a piston expander spring is adapted to maintain the upturned edge of the cup leather in continuous frictional engagement with the side wall of the cylinder 28.

The web 58 of the wabble plate 39 is formed conveniently as a spider and includes a series of openings in spaced relation to the series of sockets 38 which are formed in enlarged portions in the spider arms of the wabble plate 39, as best shown in Fig. 9. Said openings 5| are formed in the wabble plate merely to lessen the weight thereof. The wabble plate 39 is provided with the socket 52 and said wabble plate 38 is concentrically mounted in the chamber 30 on the hemispherically shaped ball end 53 of the adjusting screw 54.

As best shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6, and 9, rotation of the wabble plate 39 is prevented by means of a series of stabilizing guide pins 55 which are adapted to be engaged and disengaged in their respective notched openings 56 formed in the outer periphery of the wabble plate 39. Although I have shown said stabilizing guide pins 55 formed as separate elements inserted in openings in the bottom closure 3, it is obvious that said guide pins 55 may be formed as an integral part of said bottom closure 3. Said stabilizing guide pins 55 are formed with conical bearing surfaces for engagement in the openings 56 formed in th wabble plate. It is to be noted that the stabilizing guide pins 55 are located outside of the wabble plate track I86 which permits greater tolerances to be allowed in manufacture than would be possible if the pins were positioned inside of the wabble plate track in holes formed in the wabble plate. For equivalent accuracy and timing of the valve, closer tolerances are required where the pins for a wabble plate are located closer to the center of motion of the wabble plate. It also is to be noted that ordinarily it is more economical to mill open end slots 56 such as ar formed in the wabble plate 39 than it is to finish slotted openings within a wabble plate, as used in meters of prior art constructions.

The adjusting screw 54 is engaged in the screw threaded opening 68 formed in the support bracket 6| which is rigidly mounted on the shoulder 62, formed as an integral part of the bottom closure 3, by means of cap screws 65. The lower end of the adjusting screw 54 is provided with the gear 66 in rigid relationship therewith. The gear 66 is in engagement with the Worm 61 rigidly fixed to, or formed on, the adjusting shaft '10. Although I have shown a gear and worm gear as the driving connection because a finer calibration adjustment may be effected therewith, it is obvious that other forms of gears, such as bevelled gears, may be used.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the right-hand end portion H of the adjusting shaft 18 is journalled in the bearing 12 which is press fitted in the opening 13 formed in the bottom closure 3. The shaft 18 is journalled intermediately in the bearing 14 which is free fitted in an opening formed in the shoulder 62. The shaft 10 is provided with a stufiing box comprised of the packing '16 and pressure collar l! which are mounted in an opening 19 formed in the bottom closure 3. The collar 11 is mounted with freedom of axial movement in said opening 19 and said collar 11 is stressed against the packing 16 by means of the spring which encircles the shaft 10 and is interposed between the bearing 14 and the collar Referring to Figs. 3 and 6; the left-hand end of the adjusting shaft 10 is mounted with freedom of turning movement in the bearing socket opening 8| formed in the closure seal plate 82. Axial movement to the left of said shaft 10 is prevented by the shoulder 83, formed on the shaft 10, engaging th offset formed in said socket opening 8! of the seal plate 82. Said seal plate 82 is rigidly connected to the bottom closure 3 by means of screws 86 which extend through openings formed in. said plate 82 into screw threaded openings in said bottom closure 3.

The outer end of the shaft 10 is provided with the screw driver slot 88 so that turning movement of said shaft may be effected conveniently by means of a screw driver inserted in said slot 88. The seal plate 82 is provided with a series of small drilled openings 89 to permit a seal wire 90 to be passed therethrough and through the slot 88 to prevent unauthorized turning movement of the adjusting shaft to effect a change in the calibration of the meter after it has been inspected and sealed by the weight and measures authorities.

I find it convenient to provide the support bracket 6| with the ear 9| which has an opening which encircles the shaft 18. Such construction prevent unauthorized change of the meter adjustment without a breaking of the seal wire 90 if 5. the cap screws 65 of the support bracket BI be removed, because the ear 9 I, encircling the shaft III, would prevent disengagement of the gear 66 from the Worm 61.

As best shown in Fig. 3; the wabble plate 39 is provided with the drive stem shaft 95 which is journalled in the drilled opening 96 formed in the driving blcck assembly 9? of the crank arm driving block assembly. Said driving block assembly 91 is mounted with freedom of pivotal movement on the crank arm pin 99, the opposite ends of which are held in the bifurcated crank arms 99 (only one of which is shown in Fig. 3) formed on the crank I99 rigidly connected to the lower end of the crank shaft II! I. Said pin 98 extends through an elongated opening formed in said driving block 91, and, accordingly, said driving block 91 is thus mounted with freedom of both pivotal and reciprocatory movement in its sliding engagement within the bifurcated crank arms 99. Reciprocatory movement of the driving block 91 is limited by the pin 98 coming into engagement with either end of the elongated opening in the driving block. The driving block 91 is provided with the spring I52 held between the inner cup washer H19, in engagement with the ends of the bifurcated crank arms 99, and the outer washer I94 rigidly mounted on the right-hand end of the driving block 9'! by means of a screw. Such a construction places a loading on the wabble plate stem shaft 95 substantially at right angles to the axis of said stem shaft 95, with the result that all of the forces of the spring I92 act to hold the wabble plate 39 on the wabble plate track I06 formed on the upper side of the bottom closure 3, as viewed in Fig. 3. L

The wabble plate 39 is provided with the spring I08, the lower end of which encircles an offset formed at the top of the wabble plate 39. The upper end of said spring I98 is in engagement with the wabble plate bearing Washer I99. The thrust washer I I9 is interposed between the wabble plate bearing washer I99 and the bottom surface of the bifurcated arms 59. Said thrust washer lid is provided with an upturned portion which is. engaged with freedom of movement between the bifurcated arms 99, as best shown in Fig. 3. The crank arm and driving block assembly herein described is claimed in my copcnding application Serial No. 691,189 filed June 23, 1945, now Patent No. 2,451,455.

The crank arm I55 is rigidly connected to the reduced lower end portion of the crank arm II)! by means of the nut II2. Said crank arm IOI is journalled in thrust bearings H3 and H which are press fitted in the opening I I6 of the central hub bearing III, which is formed as an integral part of the main body casing 2. As shown in Fig. 4, the crank shaft IIlI is provided at its upper end, in integral relationship therewith, with the crank arm I29 and crank pin I2I. The crank shaft IIII rotates in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l, and it is to be noted that the crank arm IIIIl is fastened to said crank shaft I III so that the arms 99 are in a position substantially 90 clockwise from the crank pin I2I which drives the meter valve I22.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the crank pin IN is journalled in the bearing I23 formed in the imperforate inner section I25 of the valve I22. The

friction thrust washer I25 is mounted on the pin I2I and interposed between the crank arm I20 and the bearing surface of the inner section I25. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 10; the valve is comprised of the solid outer valve portion I22 and the imperforate inner portion I25. Said inner pertion I25 is circular and is slidably fitted in telescopic relation in an annular recess I30 formed in the outer valve section I22. Said inner section I25 includes a cup leather I3I, an intermediate plate I32, a spring retainer plate I35 and cup leather expander spring I36. The cup leather I3I, inter-v mediate plate I32, and spring retainer plate I35 are assembled together and secured to the upper surface of the lower annular flange of the inner section I25 by means of a series of screws I31 which extend through matching openings formed in. said spring retainer plate I35, intermediate plate I32, and cup leather I'3I into matching screw threaded holes formed in said annular flange of the innersection I25. The expander spring I36 maintains the upturned edge of the cup leather IeI in continuous fluid tight engagement with the wall of the annular recess I30 of the outer valve section I22. The valve construe: tion shown and described herein is described and claimed in my copending divisional application Serial No. 753,528, filed June 9, 1947, now abandoned.

When the meter is operating under liquid pressure, the outer valve section I22 is pressed downwardly by a series of springs Iq'iil positioned between the outer valve section I22 and the inner section 125, as best shown in-Fig. l, so that the valve seating surface I213 seats on the valve seat 23. Although in 4 I have shown only the two springs 545 which come in the plane of section, I find it convenient to utilize a plurality of such springs. The lower ends of said springs I56 are engaged in openings formed in the internal annular flange of the valve section I 22, and the upper ends of said springs I55 bear against the unders de of the annular flange of the inner section I25. When the meter is standing idle, the upward stress against the inner section I25 is transmitted through the thrust washer I38, the upper surface of which bears against the drive shaft arm I55, which in turn may push the drive shaft I58 upwardly slightly until the upper surface of the drive shaft arm I56 comes into contact with the lower surface of the bearing I59. Thus, it will be noted that the vertical spaced relationship of the outer valve section I22 and the inner valve section I25 is maintained.

The chamber I52, formed of the annular recess in the valve section I22 and closed at the top by the inner valve section I25, is in continuous open communication with the chamber 30 through the outlet ports I43 formed in the valve plate 23. Said outlet ports hi3 are in registry with the outlet ports I55 formed around the bearing hub II? by the hub support rib-s I 16 which are conveniently formed as an integral part of said huh I I1. As best shown in the inverted plan view Fig. 10, the outer ends of the ribs I55 are bifurcated and arcuate concentrically with the cup cylinders 28. It is to be noted that the ribs I55 are formed on radii running on a line from the axis of the hearing hub l I! to the center of the cup cylinders 28 and, hence, afford a maximum outlet port area, and the entire outlet flow from the cylinders 28 is carried downwardly through the outlet ports I 45 formed around the hub bearing II? to the chamber 39. Such construction accomplishes the purging of possible entrained air and water from the outlet cavities; gives maximum outlet passageway area around the hub; provides maximum strength; and permits of a minimum use of materials in a design suitable for die casting. As best shown in Fig. 3, the upper ends of said ribs I46 are provided with the notched portions I50 to facilitate the flow of fluid from the chamber I42 through the outlet ports I55. The meter body construction shown and described herein is described and claimed in my application Serial No. 651,447 filed March 2, 1946 which matured into Letters Patent No, 2,347,413 granted March 9, 1948 of which this application is a division.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the projection I55, of the inner valve section I25, in which the bearing I23 is formed for the pin I2I, forms the driving pin for the drive shaft arm I56 which is rigidly fastened by means of a tapered pin I51 to the lower end of the drive shaft I58. Said drive shaft I58 is adapted to be connected at its upper end, by any convenient means, to a recording mechanism which registers the volume of fluid passed by the meter. Said drive shaft I58 is journalled in the bearing I59 fitted in a cylindrical opening formed in the top cover I. I find it convenient to provide said drive shaft I58 with the spring loaded stuffing box I60, which may be of any of the well known constructions. The upper end of said shaft I58 is journalled in the closure cap I6I which is rigidly connected by means of a series of screws I62 to the boss I63 formed at the top of the top cover I.

Said valve is provided with a parallel motion mechanism, or Scotch yoke, to maintain parallel at all times each outer straight side of the valve section I22 with the outer straight side of the respective valve port 26 controlled. As best shown in Fig. 10, the valve section I22 is provided at each of its four corners with guide lugs I10. The valve yoke I1I is formed as a flat plate and is provided with the oppositely extending arms I12, and has a central opening I13 within the body portion. As best shown in Fig. 4, the drive shaft arm I55 is engaged with the projection I55 of the valve assembly. Said drive shaft arm I56 is positioned within the central opening I13 with clearance between said drive shaft arm I56 and the periphery of the central opening I13, The movement'of the valve is restricted to a predetermined path of travel, as hereafter described, by the valve yoke I1I co-acting with the lugs I10 and because the path of movement of the arms I12 is limited by the guide brackets I15 in which said arms I12 are mounted.

The oppositely extending arms I12 of the valve yoke I1I are respectively mounted in the guide brackets I15 which are rigidly fastened, by means of a series of screws I16, to the top wall 24 of the body casing 2. The brackets I15 are provided with a U-shaped guide channel I11 in which an arm I12 is mounted with freedom of reciprocatory movement. Said arms I12 are retained conveniently within said U-shaped guide channels I11 by means of a pin I18 which extends through the opposite side walls of the U-shaped channel I11 and overlies the arm I12, as best shown in Fig. 3. In view of the fact that the arms I12 of the yoke H! are held in sliding engagement in the guide channels I11 of the fixed brackets I15, movement of the yoke III is limited to a horizontal movement on an axis coinciding with the lines 33 in Fig. 1. As movement of said yoke I1! is thus limited, movement of the valve (effected by the crank pin I2I journalled in the bearing I28 of the projection I55) is, limited to a path of travel in which each outer straight side of the valve section I22 is at all times parallel to the outer straight side of its respective controlled valve port opening 26.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the chamber 30 is in open communication with the outlet passageway I formed in the bottom closure 3. Said outlet passageway I80 is in open communication with the outlet passageway I8I formed in the body casing 2, the outlet passageway I82 formed in the top cover I, and the passageway I83 formed in the meter outlet cap I84. The meter outlet cap I84 is secured to the top of the top cover by means of a series of screws I86, one of which is shown in Fig. 2. The outlet passageway I83 is adapted to be connected to a conduit through which the fluid passed by the meter is dispensed. As best shown in Fig. 2, the outlet passageway I8I is in restricted open communication with the chamber 30 through the communicating passageway I81 formed in the wall at the top of the chamber 30. Communication between the top of said outlet passageway I8l and the top of the chamber 30 is desirable to carry off any air with the outgoing liquid, so as to displace quickly all of the air in the meter body when it is placed in service. If it were not for such communication between the outlet passageway I8I and the chamber 38, a certain amount of air would 'be entrapped between the cylinder cups 28 and the body casing 2 for a considerable period of time before such air would be absorbed by the liquid. Entrapment of air would be objectionable because of alternate compression and expansion of such air during operation of the meter, depending upon the time elapsing between the closing of the dispensing nozzle valve in consecutive deliveries, and such alternate compression and reexpansion of air would result in variations in the recorded delivery of the meter.

The operation of the meter shown and described herein is fully described in said Letters Patent No. 2,437,413 granted to me March 9, 1948.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the essential features thereof as defined in the appended claims and, therefore, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth.

I claim:

In a meter of the nutating type; the combination of a wabble plate having a plurality of recesses formed at the periphery thereof; and a plurality of wedge-shaped stabilizing members projecting from a track member, adapted to be engaged and disengaged by said recesses intermittently in a continuous cycle during normal operation of said meter.

' DAVID S. WILLSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

